Volume-XII, Issue-II, March 2026 |
পুরুষার্থ চতুষ্টয় ও সমকালীন নৈতিক সংকট: একটি দার্শনিক বিশ্লেষণ নাড়ুগোপাল প্রসাইত, স্বাধীন গবেষক, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 16.03.2026 | Accepted: 19.03.2026 | Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.02W. | |||||||
The Four Purusharthas and the Contemporary Moral Crisis: A Philosophical Analysis Narugopal Prasait, Independent Research Scholar, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
In the Indian philosophical tradition, the Puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaya—Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokṣa—presents an integrated philosophy of life as the supreme goal and ethical guide of human existence. The objective of this research paper is to evaluate the contemporary relevance of the Puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaya through a theoretical analysis of its foundational principles. First, the distinct meaning, purpose, and ethical significance of each Puruṣārtha are explained. Subsequently, their interrelationship has been analyzed to demonstrate that they are not isolated concepts but rather integral components of a unified moral framework. The discussion establishes that Dharma regulates and guides Artha and Kāma, while Mokṣa directs the individual toward ethical self-realization and ultimate fulfillment. In the present consumerist, self-centered, and technology-driven society, individualism, erosion of values, and moral confusion are steadily increasing. In this context, the Puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaya prevents human life from being confined merely to enjoyment or material success and instead guides it toward ethical balance, self-restraint, and spiritual advancement. Therefore, a re-evaluation of the Puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaya is highly relevant for addressing the contemporary moral crisis. | ||
Keywords: Puruṣārtha, Dharma, Artha, Kāma, Mokṣa, Ethics. |